Posted by : ErwinRommel 
Posted on : 2008-10-12 
Witch Hunter Robin is a show that promises much but delivers too little. It has a potentially good plot like Darker than Black and like Darker than Black it has difficulty rising above this potential.
The main fault is symptomatic of this genre. It has an impressively drawn environment but the characters that walk in this gritty paradise are all poise and no personality. Hearing Amon talk is like hearing my sociology professor talking about his family reunion for the fifth time. The dialogues are too emotionless for any possibility of lighting up excitement when the main storyline kicks in.
Even seeing Amon in an emotional scene is quite galling. His acting skills are just unbearable. He is the main character that supposedly has an inner turmoil. That turmoil which revolves around seeing his mother as a witch is utter crap because there is never a time when he would be on any emotional extremes. He should be bursting with anger and horror when he sees Robin incinerate a man to dust. When the anime does broach the subject about his family, there were no feelings that one could detect. The anime needed to show us his trembling hands in order to tell us that Amon is currently feeling fragile inside.
To be fair, Robin as a character is not much better. The same criticisms can be equally applicable to her. When she discovers that she is a witch, her dialogue tells us that she is devastated but her actions tell a different story. In one scene after washing her face, she proclaims in her droning voice that she is a witch. A few minutes later, she delivers another stunning proclamation that perhaps she shouldn't be sitting on the floor because another killer may be loose. Sunrise has made series like Mai Hime where the characters are wonderfully portrayed. Such clunky handling of emotions is unacceptable.
The plot is where I thought Witch Hunter Robin suffered the most. It used every single possible plot device one could find in an action anime. Cool monster of a week formula? Yup; Monster turns out to be more human than once thought? Check; Robin is the chosen one? She’s the next Jesus. The series does not even attempt to be original in its choice of villain in the last half of the series.
I hate watching this genre. It's the only one that I think seems comfortable in mediocrity. Darker than Black, Black Blood Brother,Trinity Blood and Witch Hunter Robin are identical in far too many respects that I question why this genre still exists. Perhaps the fans still harbor lingering hopes that the next one will be a true heir to Cowboy Bebop. Until that time, bland main characters and overly used plot devices still dominate.
Hence, 6/10.
Posted by : Riseabovethesky
Posted on : 2007-12-21 
Far from being spellbinding
My critique is on the Japanese animation series Witch Hunter Robin. It was produced by Sunrise studio and aired for the first time on Japanese television from July 2, 2002 to December 24, 2002.
In the world of Witch Hunter Robin, witches really exist and they must be captured in order to prevent them from using their powers for bad purposes. The anime follows a new hunter named Robin who has been transfered to the Japanese base of operation (STN-J) of an organization whose goal is to confine all witches in the world. She his 15 years old, was born in Italy, is far from being the talkative type and has the ability to create and control fire at will. The first episodes follow her debut in the organization where her team goes from mission to mission to stop the growing menace of those evil spell casters. There is a turning point in the series where our heroine will have doubts about the real intentions of the organization she works for and will face many ordeals because of this disillusion.
This show is intended for a Japanese teen male audience and because of that, it put a strong focus on the action rather than on character development. This is a shame considering that, although the characters in Witch Hunter Robin seem very complex and interesting, I don't believe that they were given enough time to show their true potential. That is why, even if Witch Hunter Robin looked promising at first, in the end it was only alright; it did not push the envelope of the genre the way it should have and because this is a shorter anime (26 episodes, compared to other series of 100 episodes and over), most episodes show only small fragments of the characters' personalities. Even Robin never gets to shine all that much. This impression is also due to a very disappointing end that let the viewer wondering "what the hell was this show all about?".
At least, the music was good and fits perfectly the mood of the anime with melodies not too loud or upbeat. The graphics were also decent and avoided, most of the times, the usual shortcuts seen in other average anime series. I did not listen to the English track, but the Japanese one was pretty good and the subtitles looked appropriate.
In the end, I was rather disappointed by Witch Hunter Robin, it does a couple of things right, but not enough to cover all of the, sometimes obvious, flaws. Sadly, this is a program that showed promises, but failed to meet the expectations.
Posted by : Ravensdark
Posted on : 2007-11-12
For what this series is it is truly remarkable. We have a very interesting premise that develops into a well done story. The witch theme and religion and hunters in a rather secret organization, while being rather absurd and usually plays out rather poorly, this time it was done rather well. We have the main character Robin that is quiet and devout as far as what is good. She is sent to be a hunter. While she does not seem to be very good at it she does get better at it. Her personality does not change which is actually part of the story, but her powers grow and develop and she learns to be more effective in their use.
The animation was very good, quality wise though it does not necessarily look that way because of how dark the show was. The darkness in the show that is usually indicative of some type of horror type show went very well with Robin's somewhat loner type personality. It also was a rather good "law enforcement" type show.
The music and sound effects went really well with the story. Then we have the overall enjoyment that I found in watching the show.
I really liked this show overall and think that I may watch it again in the future. I probably will end up picking up things that I did not notice my first run through.
Posted by : bunnikun
Posted on : 2007-04-12
Witch Hunter Robin is a great anime, especially if you’re looking for one that is not too long. It is complete with deep themes, action, and romance, although it is not for the faint of heart.
Timeplace: Current time (early future? Maybe... they had futuristic computers)
Setting: Japan
Episodes: 26
Plot (8/10): The story starts out inviting you into Tokyo with our main character, Robin, a nun who was just transferred into Tokyo. Your introduced to the main characters when Robin meets her new co-workers, which are all witch hunters. They find and capture witches in the area, who are then stored in the "factory". This begins to lead to questions like “Why do we capture witches?‿ and “Do they deserve this?‿ and so on. Every episode has a deep meaning or "theme" to it. The first 10-12 episodes or so are "capture-the-witch" themed, which can become tediously repetitive over time. When the plot does begin to develop, you are left with non-stop plot surprises. ^.~ I won't give away any spoilers, but the ending was a bit of a let down for me because it seemed a little rushed and... well... depressing, but none the less satisfying. It could possibly lead to a sequel, as a new character is briefly shown in the end. But, we can only hope. ^.^
Characters (7/10): Although the characters in Witch Hunter Robin were very complex, I don't believe that they were given enough time to be developed. Because this is a shorter anime (well... compared to others...), many episodes show only tidbits of the characters past, and I was a bit unsatisfied with Robins character by the end. One of Robins personality traits is that she doesn't really show any emotion, which was a rather annoying character element because sometimes you just wanted to yell at Robin to be angry, or sad. Although most of the main characters developed nicely, others seemed dry and unnoticed in comparison. For example, I believe Haruto and Dojima could have been developed more, because although they both had a lot of personality, they weren't quite up to par with the rest of the cast.
Animation (10/10): Surprisingly, I was highly satisfied with Witch Hunter Robins animation. I believe the characters were well drawn and detailed, and I particularly liked the style of art, which made all the characters have a "casual elegance" about them. The backgrounds always looked clear and precise, and fitted the scene well. Many detailed symbols were also added into the animation, for example, an ominous crow foreshadowing what was to come.
Music (9/10): The music was excellent, suiting the anime VERY well. It always kept you on the edge of your seat, and was very powerful. I don't know exactly how to describe it, but it seemed to me like a mix of church instruments and some techno beats during battle sequences, creating a highly pleasing and emotionally touching sound.
Re-watch Value (5/10): I don't think this series would be good to re-watch, simply due to the fact that it's not a lighthearted series, but a deep ominous one. The plot is simply too deep for me to watch more than once, because it would lose its appeal. If I re-watched the series, it would be because I wanted to see all the details I had missed before. It has almost NO humor, so it's a deep thinking anime. Personally, I can't take too much deep thinking... T,T'
Total Score (8/10): Witch Hunter Robin is definitely a GREAT series, if your looking for a deep, complex, and slightly realistic look at what would happen if we did have witch-hunters. The plot can become too deep to the point where you become lost wondering "WTF?!", but if you think your ready for the ride, then take the plunge! This anime is NOT for people who want a humorous, lighthearted, passion-filled anime. It is for people who want to get their brain thinking.
Posted by : thepoet
Posted on : 2006-08-24
Art/Animation: (7/10) Very unique, dark, and simple and plain. Sometimes, it was hard for me to see the details since the setting is just a dark place. The costumes are beautiful but plain. I love simplicity so I thought this was pretty cool.
Story: (6/10) Interesting. It went WAYYY too slow. The speed was like that of a snail. The story was interesting, interesting enough to make you finish the series but the speed was the huge downer.
Characters: (8/10) Okay, this is what I have to say, AMON IS A MAN'S MAN. HE'S SO MANLY AND I JUST LOVE IT. Um... Okay, so, Robin is an awkward character... Now that I notice it, she reminds me of D from Vampire Hunter D. She's more of a fanservice character, I think. She's kind of bland. Other than that, she does have a positive character.
Music: (8/10) Must say this was pretty good. I really like the rough voice of the singer for the theme songs. It really matched the mood and the series.
Posted by : AnimeAnime
Posted on : 2006-07-28
Witch Hunter Robin..., what can I say about? It reminds me of Hellsing because the lighting in the game was very dark in almost all scene. The story starts off pretty well, then began to get worse to the extent that you won't want to continue watching it.
Story:
====
Until now, I still cannot get what the anime means and wants to express. The show contains magic and technology, fighting some enemies called "witches" and the people who are suppose to hunt them down are the "witch hunters". Apperantly, a magic user, Sena Robin was posted to STN-J, then many things happened during the period of time she works in STN-J. The story plot is confusing, I guess I must watch it several more times to get it.
Animation:
=======
Like Hellsing, many scenes takes place in places with little lighting, making it hard to see what's going on. The characters have swift and smooth movements, making it one of the strong point of this anime. But the members of STN-J look very different, making it hard for them to look like a team.
Charaters:
=======
Amon looks cool, Sena is calm and can handle situations well, Dojima's a female members of STN-J that does not put in her best effort in her work, just mentioning the personality of some characters. The personality of the characters fits the way they look like, but, even after the many event that has happened, the characters have little or no change in the way they behave. Thus, making the character development bad.
Music:
====
The opening and ending theme were good, catchy and makes me want to listen to them over and over again. Worth every penny if I have the chance to buy them.
An anime that can be better. Its biggest flaw is its story. I give an overall of 7/10, as this is an average anime, considering all its good and bad points.
Posted by : heroic_decepticon
Posted on : 2006-01-13
Any vampire, magic, medieval or witch type anime is a sure watch for me. That is the only reason I watched this series.
Unfortunately, like others that came before and some that came after (for example Vampire Hunter D, El Hazard, Blood the last vampire, Trinity Blood and a couple of others...), this series failed to meet even the lowest expectations. Admittedly in the 'vampire anime' section, Blood+, which I have yet to finish watching is actually showing some promise; but that is a review for another day.
Witch Hunter Robin started off well; the first episode actually rocked. Well, I was impressed at least; but it quickly starts to go downhill after that. In summary, the series got off to a good start but lost steam in the middle and ended in very unmemorable fashion.
STORY
This is a sort of high-tech gadgets meets medieval evil sort of anime. The story is weak and has no defined direction. There were some interesting plot threads which in the end was either never mentioned again or never resolved. This always leaves a sour taste in my mouth because it reeks of a conspiracy for an excuse to produce a second series/season.
Much like Trinity Blood after it, a lot of 'big words' and jargon was used. None of which was defined or explained; yeah, you guys are fighting witches and you use 'the craft'... yeah, SO?!? If these stuff were explained, it would actually be cool, if not, then its just cheesy. Bah! Score- 2/10
PACE
The pace was terrible. The characters run around like headless chickens from one episode to the next. This type of deplorable pace reminds of Trinity Blood, Ghost in the Shell: SAC and El Harzard (series)... yuck. The only reason I forced myself to finish this was because I had started and because I hoped, fervently, that they would resolve the many dangling sub plots in the end. Definitely not an anime I would watch again anytime soon, if ever. Score- 1/10
ANIMATION
Animation was far from good. Cels were ok, backgrounds were good. Movement is ok but not great.
For a 'tech meets ancient evil' type anime, the gadget and equipment design for Witch Hunter Robin is definitely nothing to call home about. In fact, at times, I thought, 'oh man, the equipment looks horrid'. I think the designers here got lots to learn from GAINEX... like think Neon Genesis Evangelion. For goodness sake, NGE is actually made a whole 7 years before Witch Hunter Robin. If there was to be no originality, then at least get inspiration from a good source. Score- 3/10
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Much like Trinity Blood, Ghost in the Shell: SAC and El Harzard, there-is-no-character-development, none! All the characters come across as flat and blend. Of course, Robin's character is brought across very well... she's just this lady who has a blank response to everything. If that is how it's meant to be, then I concede, there is character 'development'.
If all the characters die at like episode 12 or something, I wouldn't feel too sad. In fact, I might be happy because that would have saved me the 3 hours plus needed to watch the remaining episodes. Score- 2/10
MUSIC
Nothing memorable really. If there is no tune I can readily even hum after watching a series, chances are the music is not good enough. Score- 2/10
My overall score is obtained from adding the scores from the 5 sections, converting that to a 100%, then divided by 10 to get a score out of 10. Fractions are rounded up.
OVERALL SCORE: 2/10
Posted by : Tevesh
Posted on : 2006-01-03
Witch Hunter Robin was alright. It didn't push the envelop or even attempt to earn brownie points with me, but I can't give it a lower mark because it wasn't terrible. The two main characters have got to have the biggest lack of personality ever, including Heero from Gundam Wing or 'Gunslinger' from Trinity Blood. Robin, the character or the series, never moved me.
What made Robin earn the average score of three stars is the fact that is average. Now, it isn't the King of Average like Gasaraki but it's got some averageness in it. We got the 'Monster of the Week' syndrome, 'Let's Solve Mysteries' portion of the show, and 'Conspiracy Theory' mode during the later part of the series to offset that they were no longer doing 'Monster of the Week' mysteries. They even had the token 'I got away from the police' type of criminal.
The most interesting part of the show was the computer hacker, who did a lot but did little in the end. He was an embodiment of the screen writers, so whenever they needed something solved to further the story, he would get on it real fast. Unfortunately, this negated the fact that what he was doing is difficult by making it seem too easy with him constantly doing hard things with success.
I would say that Witch Hunter Robin is forgettable considering the sea of other animes that it emulates and is emulated from, but there will be some hardcore fans created. Watch it, and you could enjoy it immensely. It isn't terrible, so even if you do not like it, Witch Hunter Robin isn't a bad anime to invest some time with.
Posted by : xkrazydog
Posted on : 2005-12-13
"320 Years have passed since the coven sank into the dark..."
Such Haunting words, for a haunting anime.
Witch Hunter robin dazzles us with its gothic and beautiful setting. The artwork is stunning and truly a joy to the eyes. The story is unique compared to other animes, and this anime enlightens us with its serious storyline and the haunting mysteries in working for the STNJ.
Robin is an inspiring female hero, her calm face in face of danger and complex yet young mind makes me proud to be a woman. Having a powerful ability gets troubling at times, and Robin learns to cope with it.
The story is truly unique about a world of witches. Not the witches that ride on broom sticks and have warts on their faces, no these are humans who tap into their spiritual power. Sometimes, these powers can be abused, overwhelming and may lead to shear trauma. Their powers effect different things, and witches in japan leads all the way back to the witch trials in Europe and Salem. Therefore, it is the STN-J's job to keep that in check.
Everything about this anime is very well done. The atmosphere is dark, and some characters you tend to feel sorry for. We, the audience are thrilled to see the world in the mind of young Robin as she learns the cruel world as well as the secrets behind her own craft, as well as her job.
Posted by : MrSentimental
Posted on : 2005-09-09
The stylish and attractive artwork was the strong point in this Anime. From reviews I had read and other advertisements, Robin and the other characters looked real cool! and that's what initially drew me to the series. Sadly, the rest was disappointing.
There were some cool "hunting" episodes with somewhat interesting prey, but for the most part, there wasn't much about the characters that got me excited. It was often slow paced. The characters were pretty stiff, and didn't have alot of warm interactions between them. They were likeable at times, sort of. The facial expressions were adequate because, after all, there really weren't alot of strong emotions in this series, even though it looked like there should be. Mind you, I WANTED to like the charactes and the Anime (Hey, I pay good money for this stuff, ya' know?) because it initially looked real cool, but it just wasn't happening. If you're into crazy mind-blowing action, intense relationships, romantic or caring relationships, or just a good time, don't expect it here. It eventually turned out to be a series that I pushed myself to finish just to get it over with.
The music was OK, but I wasn't about to run out and buy the CD since I wouldn't be associating the music with any particular jaw-dropping, crazy, exciting, or touching scenes because, well, there just weren't really any in the show. Enjoy the cool art if you must give this a shot, but don't expect to be blown away or anything. 5 out of 10 rating.
Posted by : Shirip3np3n
Posted on : 2005-09-08
There are two production houses that I put so much faith in that their like gods to me in the anime industry - first, Ghibli; second, Bandai. People, you have to agree with me here. When did Bandai ever come up short? I am not saying they don't have occasional lapses in projects, but at least the lesser ones are completely forgivable and forgettable.
Witch Hunter Robin is one of those series that truly sets Bandai apart from the other production houses. It is a title primarily driven by plot and character, rather than design and all other superficialities that make one in every three titles a hit, which is something almost rare nowadays. It's the sleeper hit of its time, aimed at a [slightly] more mature audience without actually catering to worldly pleasures. WHR is an anime with as much intelligence as it has brawn. And if you don't mind a tasteful combination of Wicca, telekinesis and religious intrigue, WHR is definitely something to watch.
While I do adore WHR (and watched it for how many times), it does have weaknesses that you'll be relieved to hear, doesn't exactly damage the series critically. First, it starts off slow and episodic. Even Amon's godlike sexiness couldn't keep me from going to a light doze. Second (and purely subjective), there are some questions left unanswered and the ending might be a little baffling. On the other hand, it gives room for the imagination and if devotees of the series are lucky enough...we just might see it again.
Posted by : arashi_x99
Posted on : 2005-08-18
WHR is like a good mystery novel: you're tempted to skip to the ending. At first, I was thrown off by the Buffy-meets-Charmed first impression. What eventually drew me to this series was the haunting strains of the opening theme ("Shell"). Plot development was a bit slow for me in some parts, but it was worth it. I still feel that they could have developed the story a bit more since it has a lot of great material to work with. WHR plays like a mature fairytale with a so-so ending.
There are times when we feel like outsiders or victims or both. Robin's the poster girl for us grownups who sometimes entertain childish fantasies of getting even. The reserved, bespectacled lead is more than mere eye candy. Robin's a great heroine, powerful and vulnerable. I love the way her quiet strength contrasts with her violent talents.
Posted by : TwilightAngel212
Posted on : 2005-08-06 
This is a truly amazing series! Witches exist in Japan and they are now using their powers for crime. Some witches are even unaware of their powers and they spiral out of control causing problems. The STNJ is a group witch HUNTERS and Of course they hunt witches. STNJ keeps files of all the people who carry genes of witches. The STNJ tracks down and immobilizes witches using a special liquid substance called Orbo (It's loaded in the bullets). Members of the STNJ also wear Orbo to protect them from attacks. Sometimes witches are so powerful that the Orbo has no effect, so durning an assignment STNJ's craft user is killed. Robin Sena(15) is dispatched and our story begins.
The plot of the stoy takes a while to unfold, but once it does you cannot seem to leave your seat. It's amazing to watch the devlopment.
The character design is beautiful. The clothing has a gothic sense to it.
All the characters have unique attitudes.
Amon is the oldest, most experienced, silent, and won't accept Robin as his partner.
Robin is shy and timid, but has amazing deductive abilities at crime scenes. Her craft is the ability to controll and summon fire.
Michael Lee is unable to leave the STNJ headquarters. He IS a computer qenius.
Dojima is tempermental claims she had connections. (Most likely why she is on the team.)
Miho Karasuma has the ability to sense strong emotions directed at someting and can also events that have occured. She is probably the most level headed towards Robin.
Haruto Sakaki is the team rookie and thinks he is going to get dismissed, since Robin came along.
This is an amazing anime with a great plot, but it seems to be aimed at a more mature crowd.
Posted by : Rinjii
Posted on : 2005-07-31
I'd say this anime is my favorite. It's interesting how it involves a bit of fantasy and magic in everyday reality, and makes for a nice dark feel. The characters have good individual personalities, and there's some interesting relationships. Witch Hunter Robin involves a little romance, but it's really unspoken love, very subtle in its development throughout. This makes it even better in some ways. The witch hunting is really nice to watch. Some say this anime's storyline is too slow at first, but it didn't seem very apparent to me; I thought it was okay to watch it all unfold, or just watch how the characters acted and reacted and how they were being portrayed. Not everyone would like this, but, it's really quite good.
Posted by : Yuki-san
Posted on : 2005-06-16
This is a great anime.
The plot is dark and mysterious. The music is suitable for this anime. The opening and ending songs are really catchy, makes you want to sing along and hum a tune when your done.
The main character Robin is so mysterious and cool. I like her ability and she looks so cute in the glasses. The characters are well developed ,you feel like they really exist and know them well.
I enjoyed it all the way though it became a little boring at points. I bet that person in the cab at the end is Robin as she's too cool to die in a fire plus she's a fire user herself.
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